Fellow-Redeemed,
For our look at the final letter Jesus told the Apostle John to write, we turn our attention to the city of Laodicea. The ancient city no longer exists but you can visit the old site. The congregation at Laodicea was the opposite of Philadelphia.
Recall that the believers in Philadelphia were loyal to Christ and Jesus gave them no criticism. There is no word of praise in this letter to the believers in Laodicea. There was nothing positive the risen Christ could say. This does not mean that he did not care about them. Thus, John was to write the letter with one of the sternest criticisms we find in all seven; thus, the rebuke and the promise for those who repented.
He who calls himself “the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation” commanded John, “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write.” Spiritual indifference leads to expulsion. True benefit lies in the wealth God gives.
In the names Jesus calls himself, he who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, gives the Laodiceans a “heads up” why they should listen to what John wrote to them.
These are the words of the Amen- he is most certainly true. He is faithful and true, or genuine. Think of someone whose word you trust. We speak of such a person as genuine or real. Christ is the ruler or creator, the one who began the universe. John put it this way in the first chapter of his Gospel about Jesus, “Through him all things were made, without him nothing was made that has been made.”
In his perfect knowledge, Jesus knew things were not what they had been, or should be in the congregation. “I know your works, you are neither hot or cold.” The church in Laodicea has fallen into the sin of spiritual indifference. Like the Ephesians, they had lost their first love. They lacked heat or spiritual concern for the gospel of Christ. They lacked even coldness or a resistance and objection to the truth. They just did not care either way.
Pastors will tell you, and maybe you have experienced this. The most difficult witness we can make is with someone who does not care about spiritual matters. Better that they are interested, or that they get angry, or want to argue with you. You will get some reaction not just Pilate’s “What is truth?” and I could care less.
Many years had passed since they first had heard the gospel. They had grown less and less concerned with life and death, heaven and hell. The pleasures of life and the riches of this world had dulled their sense of urgency to fulfill the needs of their souls.
Because of his love for them, Jesus calls them to repentance with all the severity of the law, “I will spit you out of my mouth.” Spiritual indifference leads to expulsion, expulsion from the kingdom of God. They were not there yet so Jesus rebuked them and disciplined them.
With our ears we must listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. Beware of indifference to matters of life and death, heaven and hell. Beware that the weeds of life’s worries, riches and pleasures do not grow uncontrolled and choke out your spiritual heat. I don’t agree with the caricature that all lifetime Christians are apathetic and all new converts are on fire for the Lord. Yet this letter shows us that there is a truth behind that caricature. We can lose our love for the gospel over time.
Jesus mentions part of the reason for the trouble in Laodicea. “For you say, ‘I am rich. I have acquired wealth, and do not need a thing.” Whether Jesus is referring to their material wealth, or lack of poverty in spirit, it does not matter. In either case, they had become self-sufficient. This letter was meant to remind them that true benefit lies in the wealth God gives.
The Christians falsely believed they were entitled to God’s love, much as a spoiled child feels entitled to parents’ love. They thought they no longer needed God’s gracious forgiveness. They did not realize any longer that they were “wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.”
In love, Christ calls them and us to repentance when such love of wealth and self intrudes against our daily repentance of sin, and faith in Christ alone for forgiveness. “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.” Jesus warns us away from our sins and turns our ears instead to this counsel, “I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in fire, so you can become rich, and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.” True benefit lies in this wealth God gives.
The Laodiceans enjoyed gold from the mint in the city, brightly colored garments for which their city was famous, and an eye salve they used to prevent blindness. In Christ, they had the pure gold of the gospel, the white garments of Christ’s blood covering their sin and guilt, and deliverance from spiritual blindness by the Spirit’s working. These gifts, not their earthly possessions, would keep their situation from becoming hopeless. The gospel’s power would heal and preserve them in faith.
Jesus closes this letter with a promise. Jesus calls them and us to repentance. By the Spirit’s power in his Word, God opens our hearts to his call as he opened Lazarus’ tomb and his own. The Amen who is faithful and genuine comes in through the door he opens to eat with us and be with us. Who better than Lutherans can understand this picture? Being together and eating together mean unity in faith and fellowship in love.
One day after we have overcome sin and unbelief in this life by the Spirit’s power, we will sit with Christ on his throne, that is, reign with him. We will enjoy the eternal marriage feast of the lamb. Our cups will overflow and we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
We close our study of these letters as we heed again Jesus command, and apply it to Bethlehem congregation, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Amen. <SDG>